THE LABOUR MARKET.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 9, 10 July 1909, Page 6

THE LABOUR MARKET.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In Friday night's issue under the heading of "Things Improving,' you state that the Labour Bureau wanted seven men to fill up a gang, and could only find one. Whoever supplied you with this information in this form ought to be very much ashamed of themselves for attempting to mislead the public mind on so important a question. The Government Labour Bureau has made; no secret of the fact that it has no work, town or country, to offer single men. For nearly a week past, married men have been told that there is nothing for them at present, and the consequence is that the men, both married and single, have got tired of going, day after day, with no prospects ot any results, and have turned their attention to the City Council, where there is a greater hope of work being found. For a month past there has been a great flourish of trumpets as to what the Labour Department wa3 going to do for the unemployed, but what percentage of Wellington's unemployed have they been able to provide tor? Only a very small fraction indeed. And for .the most part these have been specially picked for the particular works liiey were sent to. The department is in possession of the names and addresses of hundreds of men, together with a host of other information, the result of the trying "inquisition" to which tho applicants are subjected. Why, then, could they not have notified some of these that work was waiting for them? One fact has been very apparent lately, i.e. that if men are not found sitting on the doorsteps, waiting indefinitely for work which fails to come to them, then, directly work is available, and there are no men in immediate sight, a "squeal" is set up that there are no" men to be found who really" want work. This is misleading, and calculated to do the cause of the honest work-seeker a lot of harm, and also to divert public sympathy away from him. — I am, etc., DISGUSTED WORKER. Correspondents continue to send to The Post suggestions in reference to the Relief Fund. "Assistance," who has often been impressed with the "enormous amount of money not collected by people making casual purchases and others who do not bother to collect coupons" at the shops, suggests that shopkeepers might combine and appoint a convenient place where these coupons could be collected and the proceeds be handed over to the fund. The correspondent adds : "There are also a number of people who at present collect coupons and cash them, and who would be glad to avail themselves of this easy way of assisting." "Ready to Help" recommends that a house-to-house canvass be made, say, half-a-dozen ladies taking different parts of the town and suburbs. The lists could be signed by the Mayor, and the collector could, if necessary, wear a distinctive badge. WORK FOR PAINTERS AND LABOURERS. [EY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, This Day. Five married labourers, were sent by the Labour Department to the Gisbome railway works last night. Every effort is being made to cope with actual cases of distiess, and the citizens' fund to provide supplies of food is being well feupported. The Minister for Public Worko has telegraphed, instructing the' lowest tender for painting the courthouse to be accepted immediately, to render aid to the unemployed painters, DISTRESS VX DUXEDLX. DUNEDIN, This Day. The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C. and Mr. Arnold, M.P., have telegraphed to the Hon. Mr. Millar, stating that an unemployed meeting here yesterday showed that great distress existed among all classes of workers, and urging the Ministei to put in hand additional work immediately. Mr. B. C. Greenman, who is conducting a series of meetings* in the Mission Hall, Tarnnaki-place, has had increased interest evinced each evoning, despite the inclement weather. The meetings will be continued on Sunday, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., also on Monday and Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. After that Mr. Greonman goes South, returning to Wellington later on. Messrs. Bertonsiliaw and Evenson have an announcement in this issue that tho partnership hitherto existing between them has now been dissolved. Mr. H. M. Berienshaw will in future carry the business and will pay all liabilities and receive all accounts due to the lato firm. The Missions to Seamen have hit upon some novel competitions for their bazaar, to be held this month, a-3 will be seen in our advertising columns, and prizes are offered for quaint and cleverly-made things. ,